Candace Ashlee Cobb

Gone too soon!  Candace Ashlee’ Cobb was born in RAF Upper Heyford, England.  Candace and the family returned from England to Grand Forks, North Dakota and with subsequent retirement of her father, settled in Hampton, Virginia.

From the time Candace was born she did things on her own.  Growing up, she was very neat, nice, curious, and smart. Her younger sister describes her as the ‘girlie girl’ of the family where everyone soon learned that she liked the finer things of life. As a child, Candace enjoyed art, reading, theatre, dance, and music, and because of these interests, she went on to become a member of the flag team in high school.

Her love for STEM took shape while in middle school which landed her at Virginia Tech University Summer Program for Girls in Engineering.  The bug was planted – in high school she took advanced and honors courses in math and science. She graduated with honors in 1999 from Kecoughtan High School and received the Center for Materials Research scholarship to attend Norfolk State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Physics, and subsequently, a Master’s degree in Optical Engineering. Her passion for STEM was not unnoticed as she was offered several internships during her collegiate career through the Mickey LeLand Energy Fellowship Program.  Candace was able to continue her love of travel and learning in California, Nevada, West Virginia, Alabama, Oregon, and Florida while participating in research at the Department of Energy National Laboratories.  Her research participation included a focus on geometric optics, laser-based spark plugs, and optical profilometry.

With graduation from Norfolk State University in her rearview mirror, Candace began her career as a Research Assistant working on various grants and programs funded by the National Science Foundation, as well as assisting in teaching various courses in Physics and Engineering at Norfolk State University.   She assisted in the recruitment and retention of scholars for various programs funded at the University. Candace sought to give back and to pay it forward.

With travel on her mind and a heart for adventure, Candace soon sought new opportunities and left Hampton for Quantico, Virginia where she was employed by the Department of the Navy as an Electronics Engineer.  She supported several projects centered on Infantry Weapon Systems, Optics, and other non-lethal war and logistic systems. After several years in Quantico, Candace transitioned to Florida and accepted a position with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) where she continued working with fiber optics and engineering. While in Florida, Candace’s love for learning and service engagement blossomed through membership in the Optical Society of America, Society of Black Engineers, and the Federal Employees Women’s Program (Chairperson for NAVSEA).

With a strong spiritual foundation, Candace accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at a young age, and was affiliated with Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Gospel Service, and Langley Chapel Gospel Service, Hampton, Virginia, where she taught Children’s Church, sang in the gospel choir and in the renowned Eglin Brotherhood Choir, and actively participated in the Protestant Women of the Chapel. Her labor was not in vain!

In the early hours of Monday March 14, 2022, Candace departed this life to live eternally with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though preceded in death by her grandparents and Aunt Evelyn V. Taylor, she leaves to cherish her memory her devoted parents, Carolyn and Irving Cobb; brother, Irving Keith Cobb; sister, Jennifer Cobb; four aunts  J Taylor Harden (Rev. Jim), Stephanie Cobb, Deborah Lacey-Lane( Willie), and aunt by heart Mary Waters; uncle Kwame Steven Cobb ( Chavandukah); Godmother Jesse Taylor, and a host of the best cousins ever, extended  family, friends, and dearest and loving church family members.

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